GrandBob: Music Clips & Lyrics
America the Beautiful
(Arranged by GrandBob)
The original words were written in 1893 by Wellesley College teacher Katharine Lee Bates. While teaching summer school in Colorado, she and some friends went on a memorable excursion. Here are her words describing that trip: “One day some of the other teachers and I decided to go on a trip to 14,000-foot Pikes Peak. We hired a prairie wagon. Near the top we had to leave the wagon and go the rest of the way on mules. I was very tired. But when I saw the view, I felt great joy. All the wonder of America seemed displayed there, with the sea-like expanse." At first the song was sung to other melodies, but the one which became most popular was composed in 1882 by New Yorker Samuel Ward. Unfortunately he died never knowing how his tune had touched so many Americans.